Livingston manager David Martindale has openly expressed his appreciation for the significant away support that Celtic bring to the Tony Macaroni Arena, despite recent controversies involving Celtic’s ultras group, the Green Brigade.

Livingston had to issue a statement criticising the Green Brigade for their actions during the last match, where they unveiled a large tifo against prior agreements with the club and local police, leveraging an inadvertently opened emergency gate.

While the club is taking steps to investigate the breach of protocol, Martindale stressed the value of large visiting crowds for the club’s financial health and the vibrant atmosphere they contribute to matchdays.

He candidly shared his preference for a stadium filled with fans from visiting clubs, citing the significant role away supporters play in Livingston’s business model and overall financial stability.

The boss claimed that away allocations contribute to about 33% of Livingston’s turnover.

He told PLZ Soccer before the Aberdeen encounter at the weekend: “Would I rather have a stadium full of 8,000 Old Firm fans in it? Yep, all day long. It brings its own problems but I think it brings a great atmosphere to that game of football

“I don’t mind it if there is eight and a half thousand Celtic, eight and a half thousand Rangers, four thousand Hearts, four thousand Hibs or three thousand Aberdeen. The club’s blueprint since it has came into the Premier League has probably been based on the business model of away fans.

“Some folk won’t like hearing that and will ask why but at the end of the day that makes up for 33 per cent of our turnover, in terms of the away allocation. If you go into any business and say ‘are you alright to lose 33 per cent of your turnover?’ I think it answers itself doesn’t it?

“Even if I take the finances out of the equation, we are still trying to sell those three stands, because for me, that is what football is.”